Orioles place outfielder Nolan Reimold on waivers, source says

Look through pictures of Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold during his minor league injury rehabilitation assignment at Double-A Bowie.

Eduardo A. EncinaThe Baltimore Sun

BOSTON — Three days after designating him for assignment, the Orioles placed outfielder Nolan Reimold on waivers Friday, according to an industry source.

It’s likely no coincidence that the club placed Reimold, who was on the 60-day disabled list and is returning from his second neck surgery, on waivers over the holiday weekend. Clubs have 48 hours to place a claim on him before he clears at 1 p.m. Sunday.

If another club claims Reimold, it must pick up what remains of his $1.025 million salary for this season, which is roughly $500,000. Reimold cannot reject a waiver claim.

If Reimold clears waivers, which seems unlikely, the Orioles can outright him to the minors. Reimold can’t reject an outright assignment, but there is a scenario in which he could elect for free agency, thereby forfeiting the remainder of his 2014 salary.

Reimold’s 20-day minor league rehabilitation assignment window ended Sunday — he hit .344/.439/.594 with two homers and seven RBIs in 17 games with Double-A Bowie — so the Orioles had to either find a place for him on the 25-man roster or designate him.

The club recalled him from his rehab assignment Monday and designated him for assignment Tuesday, giving the Orioles 10 days to either trade, release or ask waivers on the 30-year-old.

Reimold, who has been limited to 56 major league games since the beginning of the 2012 season, had no spot on the team’s 25-man roster, with the team’s right-handed left fielder-designated hitter spots filled by Nelson Cruz, Steve Pearce and Delmon Young.